Two rebel couriers held

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Jamshedpur, Oct. 29: Police arrested two Naxalites from a village in adjoining Seraikela Kharswan district last night a seized a consignment of uniforms, detonators, cell phones and a DVD player, apparently meant for senior cadres like Kundan Pahan.

Seraikela-Kharsawan additional SP Manoj Ratan Chothe said the two rebels were nabbed while the police and para-military forces were carrying out long-range patrolling 12km inside the Podakocha jungle in Chowka police station.

The stuff, which included wires for connecting explosives, were supposed to be handed over to dreaded Maoist leader Pahan and his associates, Somra Hansdah and Maharaj Parmanik.

“The police and joint forces saw two youths carrying two bundles on their heads. As we cautioned them, they started running. Our troops chased and caught them,” Chothe said.

The additional SP said the arrested Naxalites, who were basically couriers for their superiors, had been identified as Samuel Oriya (20) and Mumtaz Ansari (27).

In all, the police recovered 35 sets of black uniforms, 40 detonators, 15 metres of wire for detonating explosives, a 12-volt battery, five cell phones along with chargers, a DVD player and a DVD charger.

During interrogation, the duo revealed the uniforms were stitched by a tailor at Balrampur in Purulia district of Bengal.

“The uniforms and other materials were supposed to be delivered to another duo at Podakocha village. From Podakocha, the consignment was supposed to be carried by other rebels to Anaki village in Khunti district,” Chothe said.

The recipients were supposed to be Pahan, Hansdah and Parmanik, all of whom were active in the Arki, Tamar and Khunti regions.

“The duo had brought the consignment by bus from Balrampur via NH-33 up to Chandil and had started walking to their destination,” he explained.